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Al Leong
American actor, martial artist, stuntman, stunt co-ordinator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Albert Leong (born September 30, 1952) is an American retired actor, martial artist, stuntman, and stunt co-ordinator.[1][2] Often credited as "Asian Bad Guy", Leong was Hollywood's henchman of choice throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[3] Characterised by his martial arts skills, long wavy hair, and a prominent Fu Manchu moustache, he has had a number of small but memorable roles in many popular action films, including Lethal Weapon (1987) with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover; Die Hard (1988) with Bruce Willis; Death Warrant (1990) with Jean-Claude Van Damme; and Rapid Fire (1992) with Brandon Lee. He is also notable for his role as Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). He collaborated with director John Carpenter in Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and They Live (1988). Such appearances have garnered him a cult following.[4][5]
In television, he appeared in series such as T. J. Hooker, The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, and 24, among others.[6] Leong's martial art foundation is steeped within the 5 Animal Styles taught by Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong in Chinatown, Los Angeles.[7] In 2014, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.[8]
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Early life
Leong was born in St. Louis, Missouri.[9][10] The youngest of three children born to Chinese American parents, he grew up behind the Chinese laundry that they owned. In 1962, when he was ten years old, they moved to Los Angeles. Leong attended Hollywood High School.[11]
Health issues
Leong had brain cancer in 1993 and suffered a stroke in 2005.[12]
Career
His credits include Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Joshua Tree, Big Trouble in Little China, The Scorpion King, and They Live.[1] and a recurring role on the first season of the TV series 24. He also portrayed an out-of-time Genghis Khan in the comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. In 2003, Leong lampooned himself as well as the Hollywood tradition of actor and director 'reels' by starring in screenwriter David Callaham's "Writer's Reel."[13] In the five-minute short film, Leong portrayed Callaham going through a typical day in the life of a writer. The 'reel' was accepted into a number of short film festivals.[14]
As a stuntman, Leong was involved with the production of numerous films including The Golden Child, Last Action Hero, Roland Emmerich's Godzilla, Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, and Daredevil. He also has made appearances on several television shows such as The A-Team, Knight Rider, Magnum, P.I., The Twilight Zone, T. J. Hooker, MacGyver, That '70s Show, and HBO's Deadwood. He wrote and directed the low-budget film Daddy Tell Me a Story....
Filmography
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Music videos
- 2003 Poppin' Them Thangs by G-Unit
Further reading
- Leong, Al (August 1, 2011). The Eight Lives of Al Ka-Bong Leong. Al Leong. ISBN 978-0-615-38499-3.[15]
References
External links
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